Nativo Fungicide (Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin): Complete Guide (2026)
Ask any paddy farmer in Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu what they reach for when blast or sheath blight hits during the kharif season, and the answer is usually the same: Nativo. Bayer's premium fungicide combination has become the benchmark for serious fungal disease management in India — not because of marketing, but because it consistently works when single-ingredient fungicides don't.
Nativo (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG) combines two of the most effective fungicide active ingredients from entirely different chemical classes. This guide covers exactly how it works and how to get maximum value from it.
What is Nativo Fungicide?
Nativo is a combination fungicide manufactured by Bayer CropScience India. It contains two active ingredients:
- Tebuconazole 50% — a triazole (DMI fungicide, FRAC Group 3) that inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis in fungal cells
- Trifloxystrobin 25% — a strobilurin (QoI fungicide, FRAC Group 11) that blocks mitochondrial respiration in fungi
The WG (Wettable Granule) formulation dissolves cleanly in water, making it easy to measure and mix without dust exposure or clogging.
This is Bayer's flagship combination fungicide — positioned above generic triazole products like Tilt (Propiconazole) and designed for situations where higher efficacy and longer residual protection are required.
Why Two Active Ingredients? The Science Behind the Combination
Tebuconazole and Trifloxystrobin attack fungi at two completely independent biochemical target sites:
- Tebuconazole blocks the enzyme sterol 14α-demethylase, preventing ergosterol synthesis → fungal cell membranes collapse
- Trifloxystrobin blocks the enzyme cytochrome bc1 complex (Complex III) in the mitochondrial respiratory chain → fungal energy production stops
A fungal pathogen would need to simultaneously mutate both target sites to resist Nativo — a near-impossibility in field conditions. This dual protection is the reason Nativo has maintained its efficacy across years of intensive use in Indian agriculture.
Additionally, the two molecules have different movement patterns in plant tissue — Tebuconazole is systemic (moves via xylem), while Trifloxystrobin has strong translaminar activity (penetrates leaf tissue). Together they provide both internal systemic protection and surface-to-interior coverage.
Diseases Nativo Controls
| Disease | Crop(s) |
|---|---|
| Sheath blight | Paddy (rice) |
| Leaf blast, neck blast, glume discolouration | Paddy |
| Powdery mildew | Wheat, chilli, grapes, cucurbits, peas |
| Yellow rust (stripe rust), leaf rust | Wheat |
| Anthracnose | Chilli, mango, grapes |
| Early blight (Alternaria) | Tomato, potato |
| Alternaria leaf spot | Cotton, tomato |
| Blister blight | Tea |
| Tikka disease (early leaf spot) | Groundnut |
| Sigatoka | Banana |
| Scab, brown rot | Apple, mango |
| Downy mildew | Grapes (partial) |
The combination of blast AND sheath blight control in paddy is particularly valuable. These two diseases often co-occur during the reproductive stage, and managing both with a single product significantly reduces spray passes and labour cost.
Crops and Dosage
| Crop | Disease | Dose per acre | Dose per litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy | Blast, sheath blight, glume discolouration | 80–100 g in 150–200 L water | 0.5–1 g/L |
| Wheat | Rusts, powdery mildew | 80–100 g in 200 L water | 0.5–1 g/L |
| Chilli | Powdery mildew, anthracnose | 80–120 g in 200 L water | 0.5–1 g/L |
| Tomato | Early blight, Alternaria | 80–100 g in 200 L water | 0.5 g/L |
| Grapes | Anthracnose, powdery mildew | 0.5–1 g/L water | 0.5–1 g/L |
| Mango | Anthracnose, scab | 1 g/L water (spray to run-off) | 1 g/L |
| Tea | Blister blight | 0.5 g/L water | 0.5 g/L |
| Groundnut | Early & late leaf spot | 80–100 g in 200 L water | 0.5 g/L |
Application Tips for Nativo
- Apply at the early symptom or preventive stage. Nativo's strobilurin component (Trifloxystrobin) is most effective as a protectant. The triazole (Tebuconazole) adds curative power. For paddy blast, apply at tillering or panicle initiation — don't wait for visible lesions on the flag leaf.
- Spray interval: 14–21 days. Nativo has longer residual activity than most single-ingredient fungicides — one of its key advantages. Stretching spray intervals reduces cost and labour.
- Use 150–200 litres of water per acre for thorough canopy coverage. For tree crops like mango and apple, spray to complete run-off.
- Rainfast within 1–2 hours after application — an important practical advantage during the monsoon.
- Maximum 2–3 applications per season. Rotate with products from different chemical classes (e.g., copper oxychloride, mancozeb) between Nativo sprays to protect against strobilurin resistance development.
- Don't use Nativo when temperatures exceed 38°C for multiple days — extreme heat can reduce the residual activity window of strobilurins. Under normal conditions this is not an issue.
Nativo vs Other Premium Fungicides
- Nativo vs Custodia/Spectrum (Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole): Both are triazole + strobilurin combinations with Tebuconazole as the triazole component. Nativo uses Trifloxystrobin; Custodia/Spectrum uses Azoxystrobin. Efficacy is broadly similar. Rotate between them across seasons to diversify the strobilurin component and reduce any risk of partial Group 11 resistance.
- Nativo vs Tilt (Propiconazole alone): Nativo costs significantly more but provides longer residual activity and broader disease spectrum due to the strobilurin addition. For high-value crops or persistent disease pressure, the premium is justified.
- Nativo vs Roko (Thiophanate Methyl): Different chemical classes entirely. Roko (benzimidazole) is strong on blast and wilt; Nativo is stronger on sheath blight, rusts, and powdery mildew. Use in rotation, not as substitutes.
Nativo Fungicide Price in India (2026)
- 10 g sachet: ₹95–₹120
- 40 g pack: ₹350–₹430
- 80 g pack: ₹650–₹790
- 160 g pack: ₹1,200–₹1,450
At 80–100 g per acre, one acre spray costs ₹650–₹900. For a paddy crop worth ₹40,000–₹60,000 per acre, preventing blast and sheath blight losses of 20–40% makes the economics straightforward.
Buy Nativo fungicide on Farmkart with cash on delivery and delivery across India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I mix Nativo with insecticides?
A: Yes — Nativo is compatible with most insecticides including Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid, and Emamectin benzoate. Tank-mixing is common practice to combine disease and pest control in one spray pass. Always do a jar test with new combinations.
Q: Is Nativo effective against downy mildew?
A: The Trifloxystrobin component has moderate activity on downy mildew. For severe downy mildew (grapes, cucurbits), a dedicated product containing Metalaxyl-M or Cymoxanil is recommended alongside or instead of Nativo.
Q: How does Nativo compare to 'Nativo equivalent' generics?
A: Generic Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin combinations are available at lower prices. They contain the same active ingredients and concentration, and should be equivalent in efficacy if properly formulated. The Bayer brand commands a premium for consistent quality control.
Q: Pre-harvest interval?
A: Typically 7–14 days depending on crop. Check the specific product label.
